Was born at Prattsburg, Steuben county. New York, July 20, 1832. In 1834 he was brought to Michigan by his father, together with one other son, William. A third son, Daniel, was born at Oxbow in 1836.

R. W. Hopkins was married February 2, 1862, to Ann E. Olmsted, daughter of Harley Olmsted, the first settler of White Lake township. He has held the position of postmaster at Oxbow post-office since it was established (June 11, 1873), and is also proprietor of the saw and planing mills at that place. His father was a Whig in politics until the Republican party was formed, when he became a member of it, and Ralph has followed wisely in his footsteps, believing that the party which by a mighty effi)rt broke the shackles of the slave and removed the curse of slavery from the land is the one to support.